American, British, and French navies prepare for drill in the Persian Gulf. According to DEBKAfile, the third US aircraft carrier is moving into place off the Iranian Gulf coast to lead a 12-day naval exercise of 25 nations on September 16-27. The exercise will include a large-scale minesweeping drill simulating the breaching of the Strait of Hormuz against Iranian efforts to block oil passage. President Barack Obama may see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the last day of the exercise and hopes to present him with proof that the U.S. is ready for military action against Iran and demonstrate that an Israeli strike is superfluous.

U.S. officials sound a worldwide alert for Yosemite hantavirus risk. According to Reuters, American health officials have sent warnings to 39 other countries that their citizens who stayed in Yosemite National Park this summer may have been exposed to a deadly mouse-borne hantavirus. Of the 10,000 people thought to be at risk of contracting the disease, some 2,500 live outside the United States. The lung disease has so far killed two men and sickened four other people.

Hundreds of homes damaged in Philippine earthquake. According to Agence France-Presse, more than 800 homes and businesses were damaged when a 5.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the southern Philippines...